Update: Fall 2010

This fall I will embark on a journey that will take me around the world without using a single piece of luggage. From late August to early October I will explore 12 countries on five continents, crossing the equator four times, without carrying so much as a man-purse. The few items I do bring (including a toothbrush, an iPod, and a few extra items of clothing) will be tucked away in his pockets.

Why try such a thing? Well, for starters — as someone who’s spent much of the past 16 years traveling to various corners of the world — the idea of hitting the road without any bags sounded like an intriguing challenge. Not to mention a whole lot of fun.

But I also see my journey as a field-test for a more philosophical idea — that what we experience in life is more important than what we bring with us.